Collapsible transplanting box



Nov. 4, 1941. c. T. JONES COLLAPSIBLE TRANSPLANTING BOX Filed Sept. 26, 1940 Patented Nov. 4, 1941 UNIT E o STATES PAT PF! CE I COLLAPSIBLE TING BOX Charles T. Jones, Huntington Park, Calif.

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel device for use in holding the roots of a tree and the soil disposed therearound for transplanting the tree without removing the roots from.their original soil.

It is a primary aim of the invention to provide a device which may be readily attached around the roots of a tree and around the soil, which is adjacent the roots, for transplanting the tree without disturbing the roots and for providing a device which may be readily attached to the roots, prior to removing the tree from its original location, and which may be readily detached therefrom after the tree has been set up in its new location.

More particularly, it is an aim of the invention to provide a device having four side walls provided at their lower edges with inwardly projecting blades adapted to penetrate the earth beneath the roots of a tree, and means for detachably connecting the sides to form a box or receptacle for holding the roots and thesoil disposed therearound while the tree is being moved and replanted.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the transplanting box,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the plane of the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the box applied to the roots of a tree and containing the soil disposed therearound.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the different views, l0 designates generally the collapsible tree transplanting box comprising a pair of corresponding sides II and a pair of corresponding sides l2. The sides II and I2 are provided with corresponding blades |3 having upset flanges l4 at their elongated, back edges which are at-.

tached to the inner sides of the sides H and I2 by means of nut and bolt fastenings IS. The blades l3 extend inwardly of the sides II and I2, adjacent their lower edges, and are provided with tapered ends l6 which are cut at forty-five degree angles to the flanges l4 and to the sides Her l2 to which they are attached. The inner edges ll of the blades l3 are sharpened.

As best seen in Figure 3, the sides l2 are longer than the ides so that their ends extend beyond the sides II when the sides II and I 2 are assembled, as seen in Figure 3, and the extended ends of the sides I2 are provided with correspondingly disposed notches 8 for receiving bolts I 9. The threaded shank ends of the bolts l9 are provided with wing nuts 20 which are adapted to be tightened for clamping the sides II and I2 together to form a substantially rectangular box ID. The ends l6 of the blades l3 are tapered at forty-five degree angles to the sides to which the blades are attached, so that when the box is assembled the contiguous ends l6 will be in abutting engagement to cause the four blades l3 to form a rectangular bottom portion having a central rectangular opening defined by the four sharpened edges I1.

To apply the box It) to the roots of a tree to be transplanted, a rectangular trench 2| is first dug around the roots 22 of a tree 23 which is to be transplanted. The dismantled sides [I and I2 are then applied through the trench 2| to positions around the roots 22 by pressing the blades l3 into the soil 24, which surrounds the roots 22, beneath the roots. The sharpened edges ll of the blades l3 will readily penetrate the soil 24 so that the sides H and I2 may be moved into the positions, as illustrated in Figure 4. The bolts and nuts I 9 and 20, respectively, are then applied and the nuts 20 tightened sufliciently to clamp the sides II and I2 together around the roots 22 and the soil 24. The tree 23 can then be moved to its new location with the box Ill applied for holding the roots 22-and soil 24. In its new location, the tree should be set up in a hole substantially the size of the outer portion of the trench 2| and in the center thereof. The bolts and nuts l9 and 20 can then be removed releasing the sides II and I2 which can then be removed after which the unfilled portion of the hole, not shown, can be filled. It will thus be seen that the tree 23 can be transplanted without disturbing its roots 22 or the soil in which the roots are contained, and that the box H] can be readily applied to or removed from the roots 22 without disturbing them. The box In may obviously be constructed of any suitable material and in various sizes to accommodate trees having root formations of difierent sizes.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to as sponding notches of said pair of sides, and nuts carried by the bolts for clamping the pairs of sides together.

2. A transplanting box as in claim 1, said blades being sharpened at their inner edges for penetrating the soil beneath a tree to be transplanted, and the ends of said blades being tapered at forty-five degree angles and being disposed in abutting engagement when said sides 10 are connected.

CHARLES T. JONES. 

